Montpellier finds the Stade de France, four years after its last final.
And he will face there Friday evening the same opponent as in 2018, Castres, crowned champion that year.
It was undoubtedly the least expected final, but it does not suffer from any dispute as the Héraultais, like the Tarnais, have mastered their subject by dominating Bordeaux-Bègles (19-10) at the Allianz Riviera in Nice.
As the day before Romain Ntamack had kept Toulouse's hopes alive for a while thanks to a majestic breakthrough, Matthieu Jalibert allowed the Bordelais to stay in contact with more legged Montpellier residents.
On a charge from the Hérault hooker Guilhem Guirado, who had to meet again at his best hours, the Girondin opener recovers the ball dropped in the void, taps to follow and finds himself after a race of forty meters in the in-goal (16th).
The talent has spoken.
The mischievous gaze of the kid caught at fault and scolded by his coach, dad Urios, in the press two weeks earlier, continues to say a lot.
Annoyance is one of the best springs of this sport and the gifted, whether he likes it or not, is always piqued in his pride.
But talent alone is not enough.
Montpellier, rested last week when the Bordelais faced Racing 92 in the play-off (36-16 victory), seemed fresher, cleaner in its achievements, more effective in its intentions.
The try of winger Vincent Rattez (6th) after a forward stint – three-quarters also perfectly launched the debates.
Despite the absence of South African scrum-half Cobus Reinach and second row Paul Willemse, who have been injured for a long time, Philippe Saint-André's players, transformed this season and finally living up to their ambitions, have taken control of the encounter while muzzling the arrows coming from Gironde.
This is also the constant that we can extract from these semi-finals in Nice: winning rugby is that of a flawless collective, with precise organization, aggressive defense and minimal risk-taking. .
Like Castres, Montpellier is nothing flamboyant.
Like the Tarnais, the Héraultais are not often mistaken and offer very few holds to their opponents.
They suffocate them.
So much so that Matthieu Jalibert, helpless after his brilliant inspiration in the first half, gave way very early to François Trinh-Duc (56th), before returning twelve minutes later to replace winger Cordero, signing his trainer's hesitations.
He did not experience his usual radiance, the hoped-for radiance, as the day before Antoine Dupont had remained discreet with the ball in his hands.
And Montpellier imitated Castres.
Dots
Montpellier:
1 try from Rattez (6th), 1 transformation from Paillaugue (6th);
2 drops from Garbisi (13th), Bouthier (40th), 2 penalties from Aprasidze (70th, 79th).
Bordeaux-Bègles:
1 try from Jalibert (16th), 1 conversion from Lucu (16th);
1 penalty from Lucu (5th).
